Mets notes: Amazin's select college outfielder

The Mets selected Oregon State junior outfielder Michael Conforto with the 10th pick in the baseball draft.

He hit .345 with seven homers and 56 RBI for the Beavers this season. Conforto, 21, won the Pac-12 conference player of the year award the last two seasons, and played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National team the last two summers.

"I feel very fortunate and very blessed that I’ve been given this opportunity," Conforto said on a conference call.

"I’m overwhelmed with excitement. I’m excited to see what’s next and this is a dream come true for me."

This is the first time the Mets have used their first pick on a college player during Sandy Alderson’s four years leading the franchise. This is also the highest selection this regime has made, and the highest since Matt Harvey was drafted seventh in the 2010 draft.

This is also the fourth straight year a position player has been the Mets’ first choice.

"We think he’s an advanced hitter and has a chance to move up quicker than the high school players we’ve taken the last few years," Mets VP of player development and amateur scouting Paul DePodesta said on a conference call. "We were hopeful to have a chance to call his name. I wouldn’t say optimistic, but hopeful. We were absolutely thrilled to pull his card."

ICONIC ZIMMER: Former Met Don Zimmer died on Wednesday at 83. Mets manager Terry Collins knew Zimmer well from his time living in St. Petersburg, Fla.

"It’s a sad day for baseball," Collins said.

"[He was] one of the truly, truly iconic baseball personalities in the game."

WRIGHT OUT: David Wright was double-switched out of Thursday’s game in the eighth inning, after he made the last out in the top of the inning.

Though the move was made to insert the pitcher into the spot in the order that made the last out, Wright is the team’s captain.

"I don’t make those decisions," Wright said.

"I guess the way to answer that is you don’t make the last out of the inning you don’t get double-switched."

Mets notes: Amazin's select college outfielder

The Mets selected Oregon State junior outfielder Michael Conforto with the 10th pick in the baseball draft.

He hit .345 with seven homers and 56 RBI for the Beavers this season. Conforto, 21, won the Pac-12 conference player of the year award the last two seasons, and played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National team the last two summers.

"I feel very fortunate and very blessed that I’ve been given this opportunity," Conforto said on a conference call.

"I’m overwhelmed with excitement. I’m excited to see what’s next and this is a dream come true for me."

This is the first time the Mets have used their first pick on a college player during Sandy Alderson’s four years leading the franchise. This is also the highest selection this regime has made, and the highest since Matt Harvey was drafted seventh in the 2010 draft.

This is also the fourth straight year a position player has been the Mets’ first choice.

"We think he’s an advanced hitter and has a chance to move up quicker than the high school players we’ve taken the last few years," Mets VP of player development and amateur scouting Paul DePodesta said on a conference call. "We were hopeful to have a chance to call his name. I wouldn’t say optimistic, but hopeful. We were absolutely thrilled to pull his card."

ICONIC ZIMMER: Former Met Don Zimmer died on Wednesday at 83. Mets manager Terry Collins knew Zimmer well from his time living in St. Petersburg, Fla.

"It’s a sad day for baseball," Collins said.

"[He was] one of the truly, truly iconic baseball personalities in the game."

WRIGHT OUT: David Wright was double-switched out of Thursday’s game in the eighth inning, after he made the last out in the top of the inning.

Though the move was made to insert the pitcher into the spot in the order that made the last out, Wright is the team’s captain.

"I don’t make those decisions," Wright said.

"I guess the way to answer that is you don’t make the last out of the inning you don’t get double-switched."